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it。 However； Tu was not in the humour to quarrel； and being determined to
seek peace and ensue it； he overlooked Wei's innuendos and made out the
best case he could for his bride。 On Miss King's beauty； virtues； and ability
he enlarged with a wealth of diction and power of imagination which
astonished himself； and Jasmine also； to whom he afterward repeated the
conversation。 〃Why； Tu； dear；〃 said that artless maiden； 〃how can you
know all this about Miss King？ You have never seen her； and I am sure I
never told you half of all this。〃
〃Don't ask questions；〃 said the enraptured Tu。 〃Let it be enough for
you to know that Wei is as eager for the possession of Miss King as he
was for your sister； and that he has promised to be my best man at our
wedding to…morrow。〃
And Wei was as good as his word。 With every regard to ceremony and
ancient usage； the marriage of Tu and Jasmine was celebrated in the
presence of relatives and friends； who； attracted by the novelty of the
antecedent circumstances； came from all parts of the country to witness
the nuptials。 By Tu's especial instructions also a prominence was allowed
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to Wei； which gratified his vanity and smoothed down the ruffled feathers
of his conceit。
Jasmine thought that no time should be lost in reducing Miss King to
the same spirit of acquiescence to which Wei had been brought； and on the
evening of her wedding…day she broached the subject to Tu。
〃I shall not feel； Tu； dear；〃 she said； 〃that I have gained absolution for
my many deceptions until that very forward Miss King has been talked
over into marrying Wei； and I insist； therefore；〃 she added； with an amount
of hesitancy which reduced the demand to the level of a plaintive appeal；
〃that we start to…morrow for Ch'engtu to see the young woman。〃
〃Ho！ ho！〃 replied Tu； intensely amused at her attempted bravado。
〃These are brave words； and I suppose that I must humbly register your
decrees。〃
〃O Tu； you know what I mean。 You know that； like a child who takes a
delight in conquering toy armies； I love to fancy that I can command so
strong a man as you are。 But； Tu； if you knew how absolutely I rely on
your judgment； you would humour my folly and say yes。〃
There was a subtle incense of love and flattery about this appeal which；
backed as it was by a look of tenderness and beauty； made it irresistible；
and the arrangements for the journey were made in strict accordance with
Jasmine's wishes。
On arriving at the inn which was so full of chastening memories to
Jasmine； Tu sent his card to Mr。 King； who； flattered by the attention paid
him by so eminent a scholar； cordially invited Tu to his house。
〃To what；〃 he said； as Tu； responding to his invitation； entered his
reception…hall； 〃am I to attribute the honour of receiving your illustrious
steps in my mean apartments？〃
〃I have heard；〃 said Tu； 〃that the beautiful Miss King is your
Excellency's cousin； and having a friend who is desirous of gaining her
hand； I have come to plead on his behalf。〃
〃I regret to say；〃 replied King； 〃that your Excellency has come too late；
as she has already received an engagement token from a Mr。 Wen； who
passed here lately on his way to Peking。〃
〃Mr。 Wen is a friend of mine also；〃 said Tu； 〃and it was because I
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knew that his troth was already plighted that I ventured to come on behalf
of him of whom I have spoken。〃
〃Mr。 Wen；〃 said King； 〃is a gentleman and a scholar； and having given
a betrothal present； he is certain to communicate with us direct in case of
any difficulty。〃
〃Will you； old gentleman；〃 ＇a term of respect＇ said Tu； producing the
lines which Miss King had sent Jasmine； 〃just cast your eyes over these
verses； written to Wen by your cousin？ Feeling most regretfully that he
was unable to fulfil his engagement； Wen gave these to me as a testimony
of the truth of what I now tell you。〃
King took the paper handed him by Tu； and recognised at a glance his
cousin's handwriting。
〃Alas！〃 he said； 〃Mr Wen told us he was engaged； but； not believing
him； I urged him to consent to marry my cousin。 If you will excuse me；
sir；〃 he added； 〃I will consult with the lady as to what should be done。〃
After a short absence he returned。
〃My cousin is of the opinion；〃 he said； 〃that she cannot enter into any
new engagement until Mr。 Wen has come here himself and received back
the betrothal present which he gave her on parting。〃
〃I dare not deceive you； old gentleman； and will tell you at once that
that betrothal present was not Wen's but was my unworthy friend Wei's；
and came into Wen's possession in a way that I need not now explain。〃
〃Still；〃 said King； 〃my cousin thinks Mr。 Wen should present himself
here in person and tell his own story； and I must say that I am of her
opinion。〃
〃It is quite impossible that Mr。 Wen should return here；〃 replied Tu；
〃but my 'stupid thorn' ＇wife＇ is in the adjoining hostelry； and would be
most happy to explain fully to Miss King Wen's entire inability to play the
part of a husband to her。〃
〃If your honourable consort would meet my cousin； she； I am sure；
will be glad to talk the matter over with her。〃
With Tu's permission； Miss King's maid was sent to the inn to invite
Jasmine to call on her mistress。 The maid； who was the same who had
acted as Miss King's messenger on the former occasion； glanced long and
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earnestly at Jasmine。 Her features were familiar to her； but she could not
associate them with any lady of her acquaintance。 As she conducted her to
Miss King's apartments； she watched her stealthily； and became more and
more puzzled by her appearance。 Miss King received her with civility； and
after exchanging wishes that each might be granted ten thousand blessings；
Jasmine said； smiling：
〃Do you recognise Mr。 Wen？〃
Miss King looked at her； and seeing in her a likeness to her beloved；
said：
〃What relation are you to him； lady？〃
〃I am his very self！〃 said Jasmine。